Craig Watkins Obituary-Death News; First Elected African-American District Attorney In Texas, Craig Watkins Passes Away
Emily Wilson
Updated on March 23, 2026
Craig Watkins Obituary-Death News; First Elected African-American District Attorney In Texas, Craig Watkins Passes Away
Craig Watkins, who was the first African-American to be elected to the position of district attorney in Texas, has away. It was announced today, Tuesday, the 12th of December 2023, that American lawyer Craig Watkins had passed away successfully.
At the age of 56, he ended his life. There was no information available regarding the cause of death of Craig Watkins at the time that this article was published.
An additional childhood buddy, classmate, and football partner has passed away, according to the news that I just received. Mr. Craig Watkins, an attorney. We ask that you continue to pray for his extended family. We are keeping his friends and family in our thoughts and prayers as they go through this particularly trying time.
An American attorney, Craig Marcus Watkins was born on November 16, 1967 in the United States. Following the completion of his high school career at David W. Carter High School in Dallas in 1986, Watkins went on to acquire a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Prairie View A&M University in the year 1990.
He was a member of the first graduating class from the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in the year 1994.
Additionally, Watkins was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity during his educational career.
Before beginning his career as a lawyer, Craig Watkins was unsuccessful in his application to the office of the Dallas County District Attorney three times.
He therefore began his legal career in the offices of the Dallas city attorney and public defender. Although he was unsuccessful in his bid for the position of district attorney in 2002, he was victorious in the election held in 2006.
During his time in office, Watkins placed a strong emphasis on filing charges of child sexual abuse, which resulted in a conviction rate of 99.4 percent.
In the process of establishing the nation’s first Conviction Integrity Unit, he was responsible for the exoneration of thirty-five individuals who had been unfairly convicted.
DNA testing and the examination of material that was withheld from defense attorneys were the primary methods that Watkins utilized in order to resolve erroneous convictions.
Additionally, Watkins was honored as the Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News in the year 2008.
After serving as the district attorney, he went on to establish his own private office, where he specialized in providing complicated defense for federal and state criminal cases as well as personal injury cases.
Words fall short of expressing our grief for your loss, as we mourn with family and friends for this great loss. We are truly sorry to hear of the loss of this promising being.
Please accept our condolences, and may our prayers help comfort you. Please accept our heartfelt condolences.